Arabian Knight after his Pacific Classic victory at Del Mar. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
No. 6 Arabian Knight looks for back-to-back G1 “Classic” wins – Pacific Classic and BC Classic
NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll – October 25, 2023
Maribeth Kalinich/NTRA Press Release
Coming off his Grade 1 FanDuel Pacific Classic victory September 2 3-year-old Zedan Racing Stables’ Arabian Knight, No. 6 on the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, will attempt to beat a field of seasoned horses in the $6 Million Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, November 4.
The Bob Baffert trainee will face several other 3-year-old Grade 1 winners. Jena Antonucci trained Travers champ Blue Rose’s Arcangelo, No. 1 on the Poll and Pin Oak Stud’s Geaux Rocket Ride, No. 8, winner of the TVG Haskell. The Richard Mandella trainee was second to Arabian Knight in the Pacific Classic.
Arabian Knight handily went seven furlongs Oct. 23 in 1:24 flat. Arcangelo’s last work was at Santa Anita on Oct. 15 where he did five furlongs in a minute flat. At six furlongs Geaux Rocket Ride galloped six furlongs handily in 1:13.80 Oct. 20.
Rick Dustrow, Jr., trained 4-year-old White Abarrio, No. 5, picked up a Grade 1 win in the Whitney at Saratoga August 5 for C Two Racing Stables and Antonio Pagnano.
Other Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders getting votes for the Poll but not making the top ten are Bright Future, Zandon, Proxy, Saudi Crown, Practical Move and Mage.
Week 39 of the 2023 NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covering racing performances through October 22. Voting is conducted by national media.
The Top Thoroughbred poll represents horses competing for Horse of the Year. The Top Thoroughbred Poll concludes on Tuesday, November 7 following the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Rankings on polls are on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-1 basis with first place votes in parentheses, 2023 record and total points.
TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL
| HORSE | A-S | STATS | POINTS | PVS | |
| 1 | ARCANGELO (17) | 3-R | 5-4-0-0 | 240 | 1 |
| 2 | CODY’S WISH (5) | 5-H | 4-3-0-1 | 229 | 2 |
| 3 | UP TO THE MARK (2) | 4-C | 6-5-0-1 | 182 | 3 |
| 4 | ELITE POWER (1) | 5-H | 4-3-1-0 | 162 | 4 |
| 5 | WHITE ABARRIO (2) | 4-C | 4-2-0-1 | 150 | 5 |
| 6 | ARABIAN KNIGHT | 3-C | 3-2-0-1 | 117 | 6 |
| 7 | IDIOMATIC | 4-F | 8-7-1-0 | 89 | 7 |
| 8 | GEAUX ROCKET RIDE | 3-C | 5-3-2-0 | 79 | 9 |
| 9 | ECHO ZULU (1) | 4-F | 3-3-0-0 | 61 | 8 |
| 10 | CASA CREED | 7-H | 4-2-1-1 | 44 | 10 |
Other horses receiving votes: Gunite (27), Bright Future (20), War Like Goddess (19), Zandon (18), Proxy (14), Saudi Crown (11), Goodnight Olive (10), In Italian (8), Practical Move (7), Master Of The Seas (7), Nations Pride (7), Tamara (6), Mawj (5), Fev Rover (5), Adare Manor (5), Next (5), Randomized (3), Ceiling Crusher (3), Mage (2), Caravel (2), Pretty Mischievous (2), Locked (1)
A-S: Age-Sex, Sex: C-colt, G-gelding, H-horse, F-filly, M-mare, R-ridgling.
